Gas-operated lock for automatic recoil-operated weapons



March 27, 1945. I; w BLO M wST 2,372,542

GAS-OPERATED LOCK FOR AUTOMATIC RECOIL-OPERATED WEAPONS Filed Jan. 8, 1944 Ind/e ni'or Patented Mar. 27,

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE GAS-OPERATED LOOK FOR AUTOMATIC RECOIL-OPERATED WEAPONS 1 Claim.

The invention relates to.an improvement in recoil-operated weapons in which a gas-operated lock prevents recoil of the gun barrel until the [bullet has passed the gas-port in the barrel;

and the object of the improvement is to permit the gun-powder gases to expand more forcibly, increasing the velocity and effective range of the Weapons bullets.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the muzzle portion of an automatic recoil-operated weapons barrel and frame; Figure 2 is the same vertical section at recoil position.

The upper portion of the piston I fits into the piston recess bore 2 in the barrel 3, the lower portion of the piston I fits into the piston bore 4 in the frame extension 5; efiectively locking the barrel 3 and the frame extension 5 together (see Fig. 1).

Upon discharge of the cartridge the bullet 6 passes the gas-port I, the piston I is driven down by the expanding gases 8, compressing the piston return coil-spring 9 and releasing the barrel 3 which recoils to the normal recoil position (see Fig. 2).

Upon counter-recoil the barrel 3 returns to the forward position (see Fig. 1), and the piston return coil-spring 9 forces the piston I into the piston recess bore 2 of the barrel 3.

The upper edge of the piston I is slightly rounded (radius) ID, the outer edge of the piston recess bore 2 is slightly rounded (radius) II, to

prevent shearing the edges of the piston I and the piston recess bore 2 as the barrel 3 recoils over the piston I (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).

The retaining plug screw I2 supports the piston return coil-spring 9 and the piston I in position in the piston bore 4 of the frame exten-.

sion 5, and in position in the piston recess bore 2 of the barrel 3 (see Fig. 1).

Pulling downward on the piston extension pin I3 provides a manual release of the barrel 3, permitting the first cartridge to load into the chamber of the automatic recoil-operated weapon.

The part of the recoil-operated weapon not shown in the drawing forms no art of the present invention.

I am aware that prior to my invention automatic weapons have been made with gas-operated mechanisms. I therefore do not claim such a combination broadly; but

I claim:

The combination, in a recoil-operated weapon having a fixed frame and a recoiling barrel, of a gas-operated recoil delay lock having a gas port and a cylindrical piston recess bore in the barrel, a cylindrical piston bore through the extended portion of said frame, a cylindrical piston having an extension pin as an integral part, a retaining plug screw, said extension pin fitting in a bore in the retaining plug screw and stabilizing said piston and being a manual release for said barrel,. said piston locking said frame and said barrel together and communicating with said ibores, a piston return coil spring bearing against said piston and said retaining plug screw,

said plug screw retaining said piston return coil spring and said piston in said bores.

DONALD WILBUR BLOOMQUIST. 

